Union Minister Smriti Irani launched New protocol for Anganwadi Workers to Track Children with Disabilities Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), has launched the Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang (disabled) Children in an event held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
- The protocol provides guideline for Anganwadi workers to track and help children with disabilities
upto the age of 6.
About the protocol:
i.The protocol is an important commitment under the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi program of Mission Saksham
Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
ii.It provides training to Anganwadi workers. - The Anganwadi eco-system reaches out to over eight crore children on a daily basis.
- The children can be further tracked through the Poshan tracker.
iii.The protocol sees disability among the children as an opportunity for society rather than a challenge.
iv.The protocol embodies step-by-step approach: - Screening for early disability signs
- Inclusion in community events and empowering families
- Referral support via Accredited Social Health Activist(ASHA) /Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery
(ANM) & Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) teams.
Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi:
i.It is a flagship program of MoWCD which was launched in May, 2023.
ii.The program strengthens Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
iii.The program has adopted ECCE Task Force recommendation for play-based and activity-based learning
pedagogy along with special and timely support for divyang children. - The mother tongue of the child is the primary teacher instruction medium.
iv.As per the program, every child would be provided with at least two hours of high-quality pre-school
instruction on a daily basis.
Defence Ministry inks Rs 2956 cr contract with BHEL to Procure 16 SRGM for IN
On November 28, 2023, Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with M/s Bharat Heavy Electricals
Limited (BHEL), Haridwar, Uttarakhand for the procurement and manufacturing of 16 Upgraded Super Rapid
Gun Mount (SRGM) along with associated equipment/accessories for Indian Navy (IN) under Buy (Indian)
category at a total cost of Rs 2956.89 crore.
Report Errors in the PDF – ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 5
Key Points:
i.SRGMs will be installed onboard Indian Navy’s on serving and newly built ships by M/s Mazagon Dock &
Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, Maharashtra and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE),
Kolkata, West Bengal.
Notes:
i.The SRGMs are medium caliber anti-missile/anti-aircraft point defense weapon system for sustained rate of
fire and high accuracy.
ii.The Buy (Indian) category requires a products that is designed, developed, and manufactured in India, with a
minimum 60% Indigenous Content, and minimum 50% for in case of indigenous design.
About Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL):
It is a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
Chairman & Managing Director– Koppu Sadashiv Murthy
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Establishment– 1964
India’s 1st Telecom CoE to be set up at IIT Roorkee, UP
India’s first Telecom Centre of Excellence (CoE) will be established at the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Roorkee campus in Saharanpur, in Uttar Pradesh (UP). The UP Government will fund around
Rs.30 crore for its establishment. - The center will focus on connecting 5G technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop
innovative devices and technologies and will also prepare a base for the launch of 6G technologies. - The foundation stone for the same will be laid by the Chief Minister (CM) of UP Yogi Adityanath on
December 5, 2023.
Objective of Telecom CoE:
To develop and promote new technology in the field of telecom
Key Points:
i.The new centre will boost telecommunications Research and Development (R&D) and create job
opportunities for UP’s youth. Research will be done on these sectors: - Fundamentals of Advanced Wireless Communication
- 5G and Wireless Standards
- Millimeter-Wave Transceivers Module Design
Report Errors in the PDF – ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 6 - AI/ML (Machine Learning) for wireless communication
ii.It will function as a hub for cutting-edge technologies, supporting experts, and solving problems through
modern technology.
iii.Emphasis will be on 5G applications in e-learning, education, agriculture, and satellite communication.
iv.It will attract domestic and international investments, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in
Saharanpur.
v.It will also reduce India’s dependence on foreign technology by contributing to indigenous 5G and 6G
development.
vi.It will generate new products, services, and technologies for global commercialization.
vii.The centre will also serve as a training platform for telecom sector skill development, offering practical
experiences for students, researchers, and industry professionals.
MoHFW Rebranded AB-HWCs as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandirs‘
On 25th November 2023, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(MoHFW), has rebranded the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (ABHWCs) as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandirs‘. - The rebranded AB-HWCs will carry a new tagline ‘Arogyam Parmam Dhanam’.
Rebranding:
i.MoHFW has instructed all the states to carry out the rebranding process & to complete it by the end of 2023.
ii.The funds required for renaming the existing facilities have been proposed at Rs.3,000 per facility.
iii.The states must upload new photographs of primary health facilities (which carry the new name) on the ABHWC portal.
iv.However, the logo of the National Health Mission (NHM) will be retained as such.
Translate and Transliterate:
i.If languages other than Hindi or English are used for branding, then the full and exact title can
be translated into the respective state language(s).
ii.However, the tagline must be transliterated into the state language(s).
Note: Transliteration is the process of converting a text from one language to another without changing the
pronunciation of the text.
Ayushman Bharat (AB):
i.It is a flagship scheme of the Government of India (GoI) that aims to provide free healthcare services and
health insurance coverage to low-income earners in the country.
ii.It was launched in 2018 as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017 to achieve the vision of
Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
iii.It comprises 2 interrelated components namely: - Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
iv.HWCs provide primary health care with a focus on wellness and the delivery of an expanded range of
services closer to the community.
Report Errors in the PDF – ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 7 - PM-JAY provides health insurance coverage of Rs.5 lakhs per year to low-income earners in the
country.
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW):
Union Minister – Mansukh Mandaviya (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Bharati Pravin Pawar
BANKING & FINANCE
SEBI introduced significant amendments at the 203rd Meeting of SEBI Board
Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chaired the 203rd meeting of
the SEBI which was held in Mumbai, Maharashtra on November 25, 2023. The SEBI Board meeting announced
key decisions related to NPO fundraising, regulations for index providers, AIFs operations etc.
Key Highlights of 203rd meeting of the SEBI Board are:
i.SEBI Board introduces flexibility for Social Stock Exchange(SSE) in order to give boost to fund raising by Not
for Profit Organisation (NPOs) on the SSE.
ii.SEBI reduces minimum issue size from Rs1 crore to Rs 50 Lakh for public issuance of Zero Coupon Zero
Principal (ZCZP) instruments.
iii.SEBI has further approved to reduce minimum application
size from Rs 2 Lakh to Rs10000 for public issuance of ZCZP by NPO
on social stock exchange. It will help to expand participation of
subscribers including Retail.
iv.SEBI Board approved a regulatory framework for index providers
in order to introduce transparency and accountability in the
functioning of the securities market.
v.SEBI approved amendments to SEBI (Real Estate Investment Trusts)
Regulations, 2014.
vi. SEBI with the objective of protecting the interests of investors in
Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) approved an amendment to SEBI
(Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012.
vii. SEBI plans to introduce same day (T+0) settlement by March
2024 and Instantaneous settlement 2025.
Key Changes in framework for Social Stock Exchange
During the 203rd meeting of SEBI, Board members of SEBI have unanimously approved key changes in the
framework for Social Stock Exchange. Its main aim is to give a boost to fund raising by NPOs (Not for Profit
Organisations) on the social stock exchange. - SEBI has decided to decrease the minimum issue size in case of public issuance of Zero Coupon
Zero Principal (ZCZP) from Rs 1 crore to Rs 50 Lakh.
Report Errors in the PDF – ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 8 - To attract wider participation of subscribers including retail. It has approved the
minimum application size of public issuance of ZCZP by NPOs on Social Stock Exchange (SSE) from
Rs 2 Lakh to Rs 10000. - NPOs will be made eligible for registration on SSE under Section 10(23C) and 10(46) of the Income
Tax Act (1961). - Changing the nomenclature of “Social Auditor” with “Social Impact Assessor” to provide comfort to
NPOs and convey a positive approach towards the social sector.
About Social Stock Exchange (SSE): - It is a trading platform that allows social enterprise and non-profits to raise capital from investors
that invest in social welfare programmes. - SSE acts as a separate entity within the existing stock exchange.
- The concept of setting up a Social Stock Exchange was introduced in the Union Budget (2019).
Introduces New Framework for Small and Medium REITs
The Board approved amendments to SEBI Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT’s) Regulations, 2014.
Objective: To create a regulatory framework for facilitation of small and medium REITs with an asset value of at
least Rs50 crore vis-à-vis minimum asset value of Rs 500 crore for existing REITs.
About Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) - It is an entity to raise funds from investors to invest in income generating real estate properties like:
residential apartments, shopping building, hotels etc. - REITs were introduced by SEBI in 2007.
- It is mandatory for all REITs to be listed on the stock exchange.
SEBI asked Fresh AIFS to be held in Dematerialise Units
SEBI proposed amendments to SEBI Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) Regulations, 2012. Its main aim is to
protect the interests of investors in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).
Key Points: - Sebi mandated all the fresh investments made by an AIF after September 2024 should be held in
demat form and any fresh investment made by an AIF, beyond September 2024, shall be held in
dematerialised form. - However, the existing investment made by AIFs have been exempted in cases:
i.Where an investee company has been mandated to facilitate demat of its securities.
ii.Where AIF along with other SEBI registered entities hold investment in demat form. - The new requirement would be exempted for investment held by AIF schemes whose tenure ends
within one year and schemes of an AIF that are in extended tenure and Liquidation of AIF schemes. - Under the proposed amendment, the mandate for appointment of custodian shall now be extended
to all AIFs. Earlier, it was applicable for schemes of Category III and to schemes of Category I and II
AIFs with corpus more than Rs 500 crore.
About Alternative Investment Fund (AIF):
It is a special fund established to raise privately pooled investment vehicle from private entities whether Indian
or foreign to invest in accordance with a defined investment policy for the benefit of its investors. These funds
do not draw investment in the form of Cash or Bonds or Capital Stocks. AIFs are regulated by SEBI under SEBI
(Alternative Investment Fund) Regulation, 2012.
AIFs are further categorized in three different categories: - Category I: mainly invests in startups or any other sector which the Government considers socially
and economically desirable. Examples: Venture Capital , Social Venture Fund - Category II: includes private equity or debt funds for which the government or any other regulator
provides subsidies. Examples: Real Estate, Private Equity Funds - Category III: includes a fund which trades with a view to short term return with no time
limit. Example: Hedge Funds
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Note: Category I and Category II AIFs are required to have a minimum tenure of 3 years whereas for Category
III AIF has no specific time limit.
Introduces Regulatory Framework for Index Providers
SEBI introduced a regulatory framework for Index Providers with the main aim of introducing transparency
and accountability in governance and administration of financial regulations in the security market. - The regulatory framework follows the IOSCO Principles for financial benchmark shall only be
applicable to “Significant Indices”.
About Index Providers: are the companies which define certain rules and set benchmarks for markets. They
decide which securities to include, removed, from index over time. - Some of the major indices in India are: Nifty50 by NSE (National Stock Exchange), Sensex provided
by a venture of S&P Dow Jones and BSE Lied.
SEBI to introduce same day settlement by March 2024
Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairman of SEBI announced that SEBI would soon introduce a roadmap for the same-day
(T+0) settlement of trades by March 2024 which will later be followed by instantaneous settlement by 2025. - She emphasized adopting a robust technological pathway to facilitate immediate settlement.
- Earlier, In January 2023, India had moved to T+1 settlement cycle, which means that trade-related
settlements must be made in a day or 24 hours on completion of transaction.
IRDAI sets up 11-member Task Force, Led by Randip Singh Jagpal to examine the Impact of
DPDP Act, 2023
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) formed an 11-member task force to
examine the impact of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act of 2023 on the insurance sector. - The Chairperson of the task force will be Randip Singh Jagpal, Executive Director (Non-Life) at
IRDAI and Member of Stakeholders’ Committee. - The task force will submit its report within 1 month of the order issuance.
Other Members of the Taskforce:
Member Designation
J Meena Kumari Executive Director (Life) IRDAI
Siddhartha Mohanty Chairman of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
Vibha Padalkar
CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of HDFC Life Insurance Company
Ltd (HDFC Life)
Sanjeev Mantri (w.e.f. December 1)
Bhargav Dasgupta (Current- Till November
30, 2023) CEO of ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd
Mayank Bathwal CEO of Aditya Birla Health Insurance Company Ltd
Neerja Kapur
CMD (Chairman and Managing Director) of New India Assurance
Company Ltd
Ramaswamy Narayanan CMD of General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re)
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L.Viswanathan Member, Insurance Advisory Committee
Indranath Bishnu Partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Advocates & Solicitors
Deepak Somaithankur (Member Convenor) Manager (IT-Information Technology), IRDAI
About DPDP Act 2023:
The Ministry of Law and Justice, Legislative Department notified the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP)
Act, 2023 which establishes a comprehensive framework for processing digital personal data, balancing
individual rights to data protection with the lawful processing needs. - It aims to help clients understand the legislation’s meaning and how it may affect the business
environment. - It includes a penalty clause for non-compliance with the provisions by data fiduciaries under which
penalties can be up to Rs 250 crore. - Click Here to Read about Act
Tata AIG introduces New Insurance plan ‘Health Supercharge’
Tata AIG General Insurance Company Limited has launched its new health insurance plan, Health
Supercharge to provide comprehensive coverage for individuals and families residing in Tier I to Tier
IV locations. - It offers 2 plan options namely Value Plan and Geo Plan,based on the geographical location.
Eligibility:
i.Age limit to join the policy: 91 days – 65 years
ii.Policy tenure: 1 to 3 years
iii.Sum Insured options: 5 lakhs to 20 lakhs
Plan Availability:
i.Value Plan is available for members residing across India.
ii.Geo Plan is available for members residing across India except Mumbai (Maharashtra), New Delhi (Delhi),
Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Surat(Gujarat) & Baroda(Gujarat).
Key Features:
i.Policyholders receive a 5-times supercharge bonus on their sum insured, providing them with significantly
more coverage for their medical expenses.
ii.There is no maximum age limit to cease the policy. - Therefore, the policy extends lifelong provided proper payment of the premium.
iii.The plan includes an In-built Wellness Services and a Wellness Program.
iv.A policyholder can also add optional benefits such as unlimited restoration and a reduction in the PreExisting Disease (PED) waiting period for specified ailments.
v.The premium amount paid under this policy qualifies for deduction under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act,
1961.
vi.Families with members under the age of 40 receive a 5% discount on their premiums, both at the initial
policy inception and during renewals.
Report Errors in the PDF – ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 11 - 10% & 5% long-term discount on premium in case insured opts policy term of 3 years and 2 years
respectively.
vii.Policyholders can receive an annual preventive health check-up at no additional cost.
About Tata AIG General Insurance Company Limited:
Tata AIG General Insurance Company Limited is a joint venture (JV) company between Tata Sons and American
International Group (AIG).
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Neelesh Garg
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established in – 2001
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Abdullahi Mire, a former refugee from Somalia Named The 2023 Global Laureate of UNHCR
Nansen Refugee Awards
Abdullahi Mire, a former refugee from Somalia has been named the 2023 United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) Nansen Refugee Award’s Global Laureate for championing the right to education
while putting 100,000 books in the hands of displaced children and youth in Kenya. - The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland on 13 December 2023 at the
Global Refugee Forum 2023, which will take place from 13 to 15 December 2023. - The Somalia born grew up in the Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya.
2023 Regional Winners of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award:
The 2023 Regional Winners of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award have also been named, recognising their
outstanding work with refugees, internally displaced, and stateless people. - Elizabeth Moreno Barco from Colombia(Americas)
- Asia Al-Mashreqi from Yemen (Middle East & North Africa)
- Abdullah Habib, Sahat Zia Hero, Salim Khan and Shahida Win (Asia-Pacific): four Rohingya
storytellers documenting the experiences of stateless Rohingya refugees - Lena Grochowska and Władysław Grochowski from Poland (Europe)
About UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award:
i.Established in 1954, the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award celebrates the legacy of Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian
scientist, polar explorer, diplomat, and first High Commissioner for Refugees (1920-1930) for the League of
Nations.
ii.The 1st UNHR Nansen Refugee Award was presented in 1954 to Eleanor Roosevelt, the 1st Chair of the UN
Human Rights Commission and 1st Lady of the United States of America (USA) alongside President Franklin D.
Roosevelt.
Note: Fridtjof Nansen was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 “for his leading role in the repatriation of
prisoners of war, in international relief work and as the League of Nations High Commissioner for refugees”
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Sponsors of the Award:
The UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award is supported by the
Governments of Norway and Switzerland, the City and Canton of
Geneva, and the IKEA Foundation.
Prize Value:
i.The Award consists of a commemorative medal and a monetary
prize of USD 100,000 donated by the governments of Norway
and Switzerland. - The 2023 global laureate is expected to reinvest the
prize in the humanitarian initiatives they are being
recognized for.
ii.Several regional winners will receive a smaller monetary prize
to further their humanitarian work.
About United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR):
High Commissioner– Filippo Grandi
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Formally known as the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR was established by the United
Nations General Assembly in 1950.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Rural Marketing Association of India Appoints Puneet Vidyarthi as its President for 2023-25
The Rural Marketing Association of India (RMAI), the premier body of rural marketers in India, has
appointed Puneet Vidyarthi as its President for the 2023-2025 during its 18th Annual General Meeting
(AGM). - Puneet Vidyarthi succeeds Biswabaran Chakrabarti, incumbent President of RMAI (since 2019).
- Puneet Vidyarthi is the Head of Marketing, and Business Development (BD), India & SAR at Case
New Holland (CNH) Construction Equipment India, CNH Industrial (India) Pvt Ltd. - He also served as the Associate Vice President and Head of Marketing and Digital Innovations at JCB
India Ltd.
Other Appointments: - Vice President – Khurram Askari, Founder and Managing Director (MD) of Insight Outreach Pvt
Ltd - Treasurer – Sandip Bansal, Chief Client & Field Officer, Dialogue Factory – GroupM Media
- General Secretary – Sunny Vohra, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Anugrah Madison Advertising Pvt
Ltd
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
BBIL, Sydney University ink MoU to collaborate on vaccine R&D & infectious diseases
Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL), the developer of India’s first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin,
inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute
(Sydney ID) to collaborate on advancing vaccine research, strengthening academic-industry partnerships, and
combatting infectious diseases globally.
i.It aims to build strong sectoral and cross-organisational collaborations to design novel methodologies to
tackle future epidemics and infectious disease.
Report Errors in the PDF – ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 13
ii.The collaboration will utilize academia-industry strengths for advancing the science of vaccines and
biotherapeutics.
iii.Vaccines offer the most efficient and economical means to safeguard billions of people globally, and to
eradicate human and animal diseases.
iv.BBIL has over 145 global patents, a portfolio of over 19 vaccines and four biotherapeutics.
About Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL):
Founder & Executive Chairman– Dr Krishna M. Ella
Establishment– 1996
Headquarters– Hyderabad, Telangana
SPORTS
Punjab defeats Haryana to Clinch 13th Senior Men National Hockey Championship 2023
Hockey Punjab own the 13th edition of Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2023 and clinched
gold medal by defeating Hockey Haryana in the finals. - Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu clinched bronze medal and stands at third place after defeating Hockey
Karnataka. - The Championship was held from 17th to 28th November 2023 at Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey
Stadium, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. - Punjab, under the captainship of Harmanpreet Singh, defeated Haryana by a 9-8 margin after the
teams were tied 2-2 at regulation time. - This marks Hockey Punjab’s fourth title in the 13 editions of the tournament.
- The 2022 senior Men championship was won by Haryana who defeated Tamil Nadu.
OBITUARY
Canadian TV Producer & Emmy Award Winner Marty Krofft, Passed Away
Marty Krofft, a Canadian TV producer and puppeteer known for imaginative children’s shows such as ‘HR
Pufnstuf’ and ‘Land of the Lost,’ passed away in California, the United States of America (USA) at the age of 86.
He was born in Montreal, Canada on April 9, 1937. - He was most known for co-creating the primetime children’s TV series of the 1970s and 1980s with
his elder brother Sid Krofft. - The Krofft brothers made their TV debut in 1969 with the National Broadcasting Company (NBC)’s
“H.R. Pufnstuf,” followed by “The Bugaloos” (NBC, 1970) and “Lidsville” (American Broadcasting
Company, 1971). - They also produced 2 theatrical motion pictures namely Middle Age Crazy (1980), and Harry Tracy,
The Last Desperado (1983).
Report Errors in the PDF – ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 14 - They received the Life Time Achievement Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television
Arts & Sciences in 2018. - The brothers received a star on the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020 in recognition
of their “Golden Anniversary.”
C K Gopinathan, Director & Major Shareholder of Dhanlaxmi Bank, Passed Away
C K Gopinathan, Director on the board of Thrissur (Kerala)-based Dhanlaxmi Bank, passed away. He has
more than 25 years of experience in the banking/finance sectors and has been on the Board of the Dhanlaxmi
Bank since 2016. - He was a major shareholder in the bank, and as of September 2023, he held a 7.5% stake in the bank,
with permission to hold up to 9.99%. - He served as a Director at the Catholic Syrian Bank Limited (CSB) for almost 8 years from September
26, 2008, to July 20, 2016. - He was also the Director of C.K.G Supermarket Limited and Managing Director (MD) of C.K.G
Securities and Investments Limited.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2023- November 29
The United Nations (UN) International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is annually observed
across the globe on 29 November to provide an opportunity for the international community to show its
support for the Palestinian people, who are still striving for fundamental rights. - The UN observes the day by undertaking its annual debate on the question of Palestine, which
remains unresolved.
Note: The 2023 observance gains added significance due to Israel’s attack on Gaza following the October 7
2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, the Islamic militant organisation.
Background:
i.On 2 December 1977, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/32/40 B
and proclaimed the 29 November of every year as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People.
ii.The first International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed in 1978.
Why 29 November?
i.On that day, in 1947, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/181 (II) on the partition of Palestine. - The date was chosen because of its meaning and significance to the Palestinian people.
Report Errors in the PDF – ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 15
ii.The resolution also known as the Partition Plan, outlined the partition of the mandate for Palestine,
envisioning 2 states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem designated for international governance.
Note: Of the 2 states to be established under this resolution, only Israel has so far come into being, the
establishment of the Arab State, yet, remains unrealised after 76 years.
Division for Palestinian Rights:
i.On 1 December 2005, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/60/37, which mandated the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights. - The mandate is to organise an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event cooperating
with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN.
ii.This initiative aligns with the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on November 29.
Special Meeting:
i.In 2023, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) held a Special
Meeting to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People.
ii.In a Special Meeting, the UN member states expressed their
solidarity with the Palestinian people, through messages by
Heads of State and Government.
iii.The meeting was held in the Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC) Chamber at UN Headquarters (HQ) in New York, the
United States of America (USA).
Chair: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the meeting.
2023 Events:
i.UN Geneva (Switzerland) hosted the commemoration of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on
29 November 2023 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Exhibit:
i.An exhibit entitled “Palestine – a Land with a People” was inaugurated on November 29, 2023, and remains
on display at UNHQ in New York until January 8th, 2023.
ii.The exhibit commemorates the Palestinian Nakba (meaning catastrophe in Arabic), a deeply traumatic event
that took place during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
iii.This exhibit showcases photographs, videos, and art depicting different episodes in the Palestinian journey
before, during, and after the Nakba. - 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the mass displacement of Palestinians known as “the Nakba” or
“the Catastrophe”.
About United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA):
Commissioner-General– Mr Philippe Lazzarini (Under-Secretary-General of the UN)
Headquarters– Amman (Jordan) and Gaza (Palestinian Territory)
Following the 1948 War, UNRWA was established by UNGA on 8 December 1949 to carry out direct relief and
work programs for Palestine refugees. The Agency began operations on 1 May 1950.
STATE NEWS
Karnataka government Signed LoI with Meta for Digital Skilling and Online SafetyT
he Karnataka government signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Meta (formerly known as Facebook), an
American Multinational Social Technology Company to elevate awareness about online user safety and digital
citizenship among students and educators.
Report Errors in the PDF – ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 16 - Through this partnership, the Karnataka government plans to offer training to 1 lakh teachers and
10 lakh students in digital safety and Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR) by 2025.
Online Safety Initiative:
i.Under the online safety initiative, those aged 18 to 24 from 100 colleges and universities across Karnataka
would receive digital awareness training.The aim of the program was to make them more mindful of the new
trends in digital safety.
ii.Furthermore, students and teachers will also take the Digital Nagrik pledge, as a reminder and commitment
to creating a safer digital world.
Digital Citizenship Initiative:
i.It is a joint program between the Ministry of Information Technology & Bio Technology (IT/BT) and Meta, that
would develop a WhatsApp chatbot for the delivery of information services across various government
departments. - The purpose of the program was to streamline citizen communications and also create a Digital
Safety Chatbot for citizen awareness.
ii.Meta’s responsibility extends to training people in safe online auctions and prioritizing online safety.A
particular focus on the safety of women and children is highlighted as a crucial area.
About Karnataka:
Chief Minister– Siddaramaiah
Governor– Thawar Chand Gehlot
Stadium– M Chinnaswamy Stadium (Outdoor) and Karnataka State Hockey Association (KSHA) Hockey
Stadium (Outdoor)
MHA Appointed Atal Dulloo IAS as Chief Secretary of J&K
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Atal Dulloo, a 1988 batch Indian
Administrative Service (IAS) officer, as Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) with effect from 1st
December 2023 or from date of assumption of charge, whichever is later and until further orders. - He will replace the incumbent Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta who is set to retire on 30th
November 2023. - He is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Border Management under Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA).
Note: Both the incoming and outgoing Chief Secretaries belongs to Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union
Territory (AGMUT) cadre.
